Propelling attachment



Feb. 2, J, 'SEDORE ETAL 2,309,793

v PROPELLING ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 1, 1940 2 sheets-sheet'l livzi'vig,".L .Sedona H. A. Sniff/7.

Feb. 2, 1943. J. sEDoRE ET Al.

PROPELLING ATTACHMENT' Filed Nov. 1, 1940 2 she'ets-shet 2 Patented Feb.2, 1,943

PATENT OFFICE PROPELLING ATTACHMENT James Sedore and Alexander A. Smith,Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada Applicatien November 1, 1940, 'SerialNo. 363,948 Y In Canada July 2, 1940 5 Claims. (Cl. ISO-9.1)

Our invention relates to improvements in propelling attachments fortrucks and the principal object of our invention is to provide a deviceof l the character herewithin described whereby such vehicles areenabled to travel over soft mud,

deep snow and other Various adverse conditions where the tractive effortafforded by the conventional means of propulsion is inadequate.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described in which an additional provision is madefor travf' elling over slippery or icy ground.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which does not interfere with theoperation of f 'the vehicle under normal circumstances.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is simple in structure andoperation, and will not easily become damaged.

With the above more important objects inv view and such other minorobjects as may appear as the specification proceeds, our inventionconsists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theac-c' eompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a'side elevation of our invention. Figure 2 is a plan Viewthereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevation illustrating the structure of our wheelsuspension mechanism` and the adjustable equalizer rods used inconnection therewith.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional elevation taken along the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the;

underside of one of our traction plates.

Figure 6 is a plan View partially broken away, and illustrating amodified constructional arrangement of one of our traction plates.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of-one of our'n traction plates showing afurther modification thereof.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional elevation illustrating thedetail of a clutch assembly, f

shafts 2 journalled in a suitable housing 3 and driven through themedium of a conventional differential assembly 4 from the engine of thevehicle. This housing is secured by means of a pair of mounting blocks 5to the vehicle chassis 6 and it will be observed in this connection thatits position has been shifted forwardly along the chassisrto a certainextent and the associated propeller shaft (not illustrated)correspondingly shortened in order to accommodate the various remainingcomponents of our invention hereinafter to be described. Y

Attached to the chassis 6 by means of the suspension springs 'i weprovide a pair of recessed channels 8 in the longitudinally extendingrecessesfS of which a pair of guide blocks I0 are freely slidable. Thelatter are secured to the housing II of a sub-axle assembly I2 and apair of longitudinally aligned shafts I3 each carrying von its outerextremity a dual wheel I4 are journalled in suitable bearings l5 andfreely rotatable therein.

A pair of endless tracks I6 designed to pass over the sprockets I andthe wheels I4, each comprising l a plurality of hingedly connectedtraction Yplates II, each of the latter being in turn provided with apair of spaced apertures I8 engageable with the outwardly projectingteeth I9 of the sprockets. The interconnection of the plates willclearly be apparent from the accompanying drawings and consists of aplurality of elongated eye-pieces 20 attached alternatively to andformed integrally with the adjacent edges of the plates, a suitablehinge pin 2I extendingin turn, through each aligned row of eye-piecesand an arcuate protecting plate 22 secured along one edge thereof totheoutside of each plateover` lapping the connection thus made.

l Our means for retaining the tracks I6' in posiltion is provided uponthe underside 23 of each of our plates I'I, and comprises an'inwardlyextending lug 2lil designed to engage a perimetrical groove 25 formedmedially the width of the 1 sprockets I and receivable in a furthergroove 26 The tension of our tracks may be adjusted by means of a pairof equalizer rods 3|, each consisting of two longitudinally alignedshafts 32 connected together by a conventional turnbuckle 33 andextending between the housings 3 and I I, the free ends of the rodsbeing of course enlarged as at 34 to accommodate a circular aperture 35through which the aforementioned housings may freely pass.

Referring now to the accompanying Figures 8 to 10 inclusive, our meansfor manually controlling the independent or simultaneous rotation of theshafts I3 consists of a clutch assembly 316 housed within a cylindricalcasing 31 provided upon the sub-axle I2, and comprises a rotatable disc38 secured by means of the key 39 to one of the shafts and provided onthe face 40 thereof with a pair of inwardly extending, diametricallyopposed, rectangular recesses 4I. The remaining of the shafts isequipped at the inner end thereof with -a squared portion 42 terminatedby a cylindrical boss 43, the latter being receivable in a circularrecess 44 formed concentrically in the disc 38 to facilitate properalignment of the two shafts.

A circular plate 45 provided with a square aperture 45 is freelyslidable upon the shaft por- -tion 42 and carries upon the face 4lthereof a pair of outwar-dly projecting, diametrically opposed dogs 48engageable with the recesses 4I upon the manipulation of a slidablecontrol rod 49. The latter is journalled in suitable bearings D formedin the housing 3l and carries at the inner end thereof a dog portion 5Iprojecting into an annular groove 52 extending around the circumferenceof the plate 45.

Referring now to the embodiment of our invention shown in theaccompanying Figure '7, our plates I'I may if desired, be equipped witha plurality of outwardly projecting spikes 53 secured to the uppersurfaces 54 thereof to increase the tractive eiort of the vehicle whentravelling over slippery or icy roads.

When our invention is in operation the vehicle may be said to provideits own roadbed by placing the tracks I6 in the path of travel of thewheels I4. Accordingly, the tractive eiTort thus obtained at the greatlyenlarged point of contact of the vehicle with the road will facilitatetravelling over mud, snow or ice, and the drive ratio from the engine tothe wheels may of course be raised considerably by decreasing thediameter ofthe sprockets I. v

Furthermore, the fact that the tracks are driven from the sprocketseliminates any possibility of slippage such as may occur between suchtracks and the wheels I4 if the latter were driven and we also wish topoint out that the clutch assembly 36 should normally be disengaged topermit independent rotation of the shafts I3 when the vehicle isnegotiating a curved path.

When, however, extremely adverse road conditions are encountered, thisclutch may be engaged and both the tracks I5 driven at an equal rate ofspeed from the differential 4 in the same manner as though the wheels I4were connected l by a solid shaft. Y

r `Since many modifications can be made in the cil invention hereindescribed and since the accompanying drawings have been prepared only toi1- lustrate the relative arrangement and interaction of parts and notwith regard to accuracy of dimensions for manufacturing purposes whichin view of this disclosure we consider to ent-ail merely mechanicalskill together with the skill of the mechanical draftsman, and sincemany apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may bemade within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the same, it is intended that all mattercontained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted asillustrative only and not in a limiting sense and we desire only suchlimitations placed thereon as justice dictates.

What We claim as our invention is:

l. A propelling attachment for trucks and like vehicles comprising incombination a pair of sprockets secured to the drive shafts of saidvehicle, a sub-axle and a pair of dual wheels thereon, a pair of endlesstracks each comprising a. plurality of hingedly connected tractionplates having a plurality of apertures formed therein, designed toengage the teeth of said sprockets, a plurality of inwardly projectinglugs secured to the underside of said plates, said lugs engaging aperimetrical groove formed medially the width of said sprockets and afurther V-shaped groove existing between the abutting perimetrical edgesof said dual wheels.

2. The device as defined in claim l in which said sprockets are of apolygonic configuration, said plates being designed to contactprogressively the several sides thereof.

3. A propelling attachment for trucks and like vehicles comprising incombination a pair of sprockets secured to the drive shafts of saidvehicle, a sub-axle and a pair of dual wheels thereon, a pair of endlesstracks each comprising a plurality of hingedly yconnected tractionplates having a plurality of apertures formed therein designed to engagethe teeth of said sprockets, a plurality of inwardly projecting lugssecured medially to the underside of said plates, said lugs engaging aperimetrical groove formed medially the width of said sprockets and afurther V- shaped groove existing between th-e abutting perimetricaledges of said dual wheels, a plurality of further inwardly vprojectinglugs secured to the underside of said plates and near the edges thereof,said last mentioned lugs being designed to contact the sides of saidsprockets and said wheels.

4. In association with the device defined in claim 1, means forincreasing the tractive effort of said plates comprising a plurality ofoutwardly projecting spikes secured to the upper

